Weed-exterminator.



C. LARSON.

WEED BXTERMINATOR. APPLICATION FILED APR. 21, 1914.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

6 5 Z J w M mil z Wm b fl l m m, C W MA WITNESSES:

CHRIS LARSON, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

WEED-EXTERMINATOR.

Application filed April 21.

To all whom it may concern:

ie it known that 1, CHRIS LARSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVeed-Exterminators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to weed exterminators and its object resides in the provision 'of a simple. manually'operated instrument by the use of which an extirpative liquid such as creosote or gasolene may be injected into the ground in close proximity to the roots of the dandelions and other noxious plants, for the purpose of killing them.

An embodiment of my invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings in the various views of which like parts are similarly designated, and in which.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, partially sectional elevation of the instrument, Fig. 2, an enlarged longitudinal section through the discharge end thereof, Fig. 3, a similar section showing the position of the valve in the piston while the latter is moved inwardly for the supply of liquid to the nozzle of the same, Fig. 4, a transverse section along the line 4-4, Fig. 2, Fig. 5, an elevation of the rear end of the barrel of the instrument showing the method'of securing the removable cap thereto. and Fig. 6, a

sectional view of the forward end of the barrel showing a modified form of construction.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my improved weed exterminator is composed of a cylindrical barrel 2 which at one of its, ends is closed by a cap 3and at its opposite end by means of a plug 4. The cap is removably secured to the barrel by means of a bayonet joint comprising a pin 5 on the cap and an angular slot 6 in the barrel, into which the pin projects. The plug 4 which is held in place by a set screw 7 is provided with a central, screw-threaded aperture in which a. discharge nozzle 8 is removably secured at one of its ends.

The nozzle consists of a pointed rod provided with a longitudinal bore which extends from its end within the plug, to a transverse outlet opening 9 adjacent its opposite pointed end, through which in the operation of the instrument, liquid contained in the barrel is discharged.

A piston 10 slidably fitted in the barrel is secured at the end of a tubular rod 12 which Specification of Letters Patent.

1914. Serial No. 833,403.

passes through a central opening in the cap 3 and which at its opposite end is provided with a handle 13. A collar 14 fixed on the rod within the barrel by means of a set screw, provides means for the compression of a helical spring 15 which is coiled around the rod between the collar and the inner end surface of the cap. The rod is furthermore provided with a number of transverse apertures 16 for the reception of a pin 17 the. protruding ends of which extend inside the spring, and by engagement with the end of the cap, determine the inward stroke of the piston. The end of the rod at which the piston is attached, is open and at a. point above the piston, and the rod has a pair of alined openings 18 through which liquid contained in the barrel can enter its longitudinal bore.

A disk valve 19 at the end of a stem 12 which extends into the open end of the rod, is ca able of closing the same by engagement with the lower surface of the piston. The stem is flattened longitudinally as shown in Fig. 4, to provide passages in the bore of the rod for the flow of liquid from the transverse openings 18 of the same, to

its open end, and a pin 21 connected at the end of the valve-stem projects through the openings 18 of the rod to provide a stop wliich limits the outward movement of the va ve. A centrally apertured washer 22 made of leather or other elastic material is placed against the inner surface of the plug 4.- to deaden the impact of the piston with the latter when it is driven forwardly by th expansion of the spring 15. i

To enable the operator'to readily determine the proper position of the instrument when its pointed nozzleis driven into the ground, namely, with the outlet 9 of the nozzle fac-' ing the root of the plant'to be exterminated, the set screw 7 which secures the plug in place in the barrel, is positioned on the same side of the device at which the outlet of the nozzle is located, to serve as a sight.

In the operation of the instrument its pointed nozzle is after the barrel has been filled with the liquid to be used for killing the plants, inserted into the ground in close proximity to the plant to be exterminated and with the outlet of its nozzle facing the root thereof. The piston which normally rests upon the leather washer at the forward end of the barrel is now moved inwardly by v PatentedDec.8,1914l.

' by its pressure.

. plant.

pulling the rod by means of its handle, rearwardly against the resistance produced by the spring. During the inward movement of the piston, the liquid contained in the barrel, or in case the latter is but partially filled, the liquid and air in the same, are compressed, with the result that the liquid is compelled to enter the longitudinal bore of the rod through its transverse passages and to be discharged therefrom into the end portion. of the barrel at the opposite end of the piston, past the valve which is opened The rearward movement of the rod compresses the spring with the result that when subsequently the handle is re leased, the expansion of the spring will drive the piston forcibly forwardly with the result that the liquid which was forced into the end portion of the barrel, is ejected therefrom through the outlet adjacent the pointed end of the nozzle to enter either the root of the dandelion or the ground in close proximity to the same, and thereby kill the The position of the pin 17 in one or they other of the transverse openings 16 in the rod, determines the inward stroke of the piston and in consequence the amount of liquid which is expelled during its move.-. ment in the. opposite direction after the handle of its rod has been released.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings has been shown a modified construction of the instrument in which the valve in the piston has been elimi= nated and the barrel is provided with a ,pair of passages which are formed by longitudinally extending depressions 23 in its interior surface adjacent its forward end; During rearward movement of the piston, these passages establish a temporary communication betweenthe portions of the bar rel at opposite sides of the piston for the purpose of admitting liquid to the nozzle through which it is driven by the subsequent forward movement of the piston when the handle at the end of its rod is released.

I desire it understood that other modifications in the construction of the instrument may be resorted towithin the spirit of my invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims- I 1. In a weed exterminator, a closed barrel having at its forward end, an outlet.

opening and inconnection therewith, a nozzle capable of being inserted into the ground, a. longitudinally bored rod passing through an opening in the opposite end of the barrel, a piston at the inner end of the rod, the open inner end of the rod being in communication with the portion of the bar'- rel at the forward side of the piston,'an d the rod having at the opposite side of the same,

an opening in connection with its bore, a valve normally closing the-said open end of the rod and capable of openingthe same by fluid-pressure when thepiston moves'rear- 'wardly, and a springdisposed to be compressed, during rearward movement of the piston, the said valve being adapted to close the said outlet-opening by engagement with the forward end of the barrel when the piston is in its normal position of rest.

piston at the inner end of the rod, the open inner end of the rod being in communication with the portion of the barrel at the forward side of the piston, and the rod hav-.

ing at the opposite side of the same, transverse openings in connection with im bore, a valve normally closing the said open end of the rod by engagement with the forward side of the piston and having a flattened stem projecting into the bore of the rod, and a transverse pin on its stem, which projects loosely into the said transverse openings of the rod, and a spring disposed to be compressed during rearward movement of the piston.

3. In a weed exterminatona closed barrelhaving at its forward end, a nozzle capable of being inserted into the ground, a rod passing through an opening in the opposite end of the barrel, a piston at the inner end of the rod, means for establishing communication between the portions of the barrel at opposite sides of the piston during rearward movement of the latter, a spring disposed to be compressed during rearward movement of the piston, and means for limitin the said movement of the iston to pre etermine the quantity of fluid to be discharged during movement of the piston in the opposite direction 4. In a weed exterminator, a olosedbarrel having at its forward end, a nozzle capable of being inserted into the ground, a rod passing through an opening in the opposite end of the barrel, a piston at the-inner end of the rod, means for establishin communication between'the portions of t e barrel at opposite sides of the piston during rearward movement of the latter, a spring disposed to be compressed during r arward movement of the piston, and a stop adjustable to diiferent positions on the rod for variably limiting the said movement of the. piston by ongagement with the rear end of the barrel.

5. In a weed exterminator, a closed barrel having at its forward end, an outlet opening and in connection therewith, a nozzle capable of being inserted into the ground, a rod passing through an opening in the opposite end of the barrel, a piston'at the inner endpiston, an elastic element disposed around said outlet opening to'be engaged by said piston in its normal condition of rest for closing said opening, and means for establishing communication between the portions of the barrel at opposite sides of the piston, durinlg rearward movement of the latter.

6. n a weed-exterminator, a closed barrel having at its forward end, a nozzle cap2,'- ble of bein inserted into the ground, a piston in the arrcl, at the end of a longitudinally bored rod which passes through an opening in the opposite end of the same, the open, inner end of the rod being in communication with the portion of the barrel at the forward side of the piston, and the rod having at the opposite side of the same, 15 an opening in constant connection with its bore, a valve normally closing the said open end of the rod and mounted to open the same by ressure of fluid within the bore of the ro and a spring disposed to be 20 compressed during rearward movement of the piston.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed' my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHRIS LARSON.

Witnesses:

G. J. ROLLANDET, L. Rnoanms. 

